Jung Myung-seok, the 81-year-old leader of the Christian Gospel Mission (JMS), was sentenced to 33 years in prison, six years longer than the prosecution's recommendation, for sexual crimes against 16 female followers. The Daejeon District Court determined that the repeated offenses, which exploited his religious authority, warranted a severe penalty due to the increased number of victims and incidents compared to previous cases.
On October 19, the court's Criminal Division 11, led by Judge Park Woo-geun, imposed the sentence for charges including quasi-rape. In addition to the prison term, Jung was ordered to have his personal information disclosed and restricted from employment in institutions related to children, adolescents, and individuals with disabilities for ten years, as well as to wear an electronic monitoring device for 15 years. Previously, he had been recommended a sentence of 27 years.
Jung was prosecuted for sexually assaulting or molesting 16 female followers at a training center in Wollyeong-dong, Geumsan County, from 2018 to 2022. He allegedly manipulated the victims into believing he was the 'Messiah,' rendering them psychologically unable to resist.
This case is distinct from a previous one in which Jung received a confirmed 17-year sentence for sexual crimes against three female followers, including those of Hong Kong and Australian nationality. Following the victims' disclosures, additional complaints from other followers led to further charges, resulting in over two years of hearings since the initial indictment in May 2024.
The key issues in the trial were the credibility of the victims' testimonies and their psychological inability to resist. Jung denied the allegations, claiming there was no physical contact and that the victims were not incapacitated.
However, the court found the testimonies of all 16 victims to be detailed and consistent, stating, "The victims described the crime scenes in a manner that would be difficult to articulate without direct experience." The court recognized that the victims had undergone repeated indoctrination, leading them to idolize Jung and submit unconditionally, making independent and critical judgment challenging.
Even if the victims recognized the sexual violations, the court noted that fear of Jung and the religious hierarchy made it practically impossible for them to resist, concluding that Jung had infringed upon their sexual autonomy. Nevertheless, some charges of molestation were deemed insufficiently proven and were dismissed.
The court took into account that Jung had previously served a 10-year sentence for similar crimes and reoffended after his release. It emphasized that his actions were not impulsive but rather a continuation of a long-established religious dominance and influence.
The court stated, "Given the greater number of victims and incidents compared to the previous case, a harsher sentence is unavoidable." It also noted that despite the serious nature of the offenses, Jung denied the allegations and made no efforts toward victim restitution, which influenced the sentencing.
Jung Jo-eun, the 48-year-old second-in-command of JMS, was sentenced to seven years in prison for her involvement in Jung's sexual crimes. She was accused of persuading female followers to believe in Jung as the Messiah and participating in sexual offenses against three victims.
The court pointed out that Jung Jo-eun had knowledge of Jung's past sexual offenses but failed to protect the victims and did not make efforts toward their recovery. She is currently serving a separate seven-year sentence from a previous case.
Three other officials charged with aiding the crimes or coercing victims into not filing complaints received sentences of three years in prison or suspended sentences. One administrator charged with sending messages to encourage a victim's visit was acquitted, as the court found that the act did not constitute aiding the crime.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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